Shloka 126

Pṛthā’s Atithi-Sevā and the Gift of the Deva-Āhvāna Mantra (पृथायाः अतिथिसेवा तथा देवाह्वानमन्त्रप्रदानम्)

Devanagari script

प्राहिणोत्‌ कुम्भकर्णाय लक्ष्मण: परवीरहा । शत्रुवीरोंका संहार करनेवाले लक्ष्मणने कुम्भकर्णके सामने जाकर उसको लक्ष्य करके सुवर्णमय पंखसे सुशोभित एक महावेगशाली महान्‌ बाण चलाया

Transliteration

prāhiṇot kumbhakarṇāya lakṣmaṇaḥ paravīrahā | śatruvīrāṇāṃ saṃhāra-karaṇe vāle lakṣmaṇe kumbhakarṇasya sammukhaṃ gatvā taṃ lakṣyaṃ kṛtvā suvarṇamaya-pakṣa-śobhitam ekaṃ mahāvegaśāli mahān bāṇam acālayat |

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Lakṣmaṇa, the slayer of enemy champions, advanced to face Kumbhakarṇa. Fixing him as his target, he released a single mighty arrow—swift as a great force—adorned with golden feathers. The scene underscores the warrior’s duty to confront a destructive aggressor directly, using disciplined aim and resolve rather than reckless violence.

Word by Word

• प्राहिणोत्: sent/shot forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हि (धातु: हि/हिणोति)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), 3rd, singular, Parasmaipada

• कुम्भकर्णाय: to Kumbhakarna
• कुम्भकर्णाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, dative, singular

• लक्ष्मणः: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• परवीरहा: slayer of enemy-heroes
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर-वीर-हन् (प्रातिपदिक: परवीरहन्)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Kumbhakarṇa
• arrow (bāṇa) with golden feathers

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage highlights disciplined valor: when confronting a destructive foe, a warrior’s duty is to act decisively with focus and restraint—aimed action in defense of order rather than uncontrolled aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya narrates a battle moment where Lakṣmaṇa steps before Kumbhakarṇa, takes careful aim, and releases a powerful, swift arrow adorned with golden feathers.